Microsoft buys data management firm, pulls product line

And ends spat with LG

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Microsoft has bought data management firm Stratature to provide improvements to its SQL server, business intelligence, and SharePoint products.

The Georgia-based company makes "Master Data Management" products to improve business databases. It collects company data from different places and puts it into one standardised system to make accessing information easier.

Microsoft will withdraw Stratature products from the market, and no more sales will be made. The rather contradictory statement said: "Microsoft plans to withdraw the current Stratature products from market. Existing customers who want to expand their deployments are encouraged to contact their Stratature representative to discuss additional purchases."

But the software giant said it will continue to honour service and support contracts.

On staffing or possible layoffs, Microsoft said: "All employees will continue to be employed as either a full-time Microsoft or a transitional employee for a defined period of time." Statature employes 16 staff.

In the longer term, Microsoft and Stratature will integrate their products, but no other details were given out.

In other Microsoft news, the company has reached a patent agreement with Korea's LG. The two-way deal gives both companies access to some of each other's patents. LG will get access to Microsoft's claimed patents based on Linux for embedded devices while Microsoft gets access to the wide range of home technology products made by LG.

Financial devices were not released, but LG is expected to gain more than it loses.